Sundance Overspending: Searchlight Buys ‘Theater Camp’ For $8 Million, Apple Buys ‘Flora and Son’ For $20 Million

Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s “Theater Camp” world premiered this past weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received two standing ovations from the audience, one following the film itself and one after a post-screening musical performance.

Shortly after, Searchlight Pictures took the bait and acquired distribution for the film for $8 million. Bad move. There are no theatrical prospects for “Theater Camp.” None. Zilch. Nada.

This mockumentary set at an upstate musical theater camp will maybe adhere to hardcore camp musical aficionados, but, truthfully, that’s a very minuscule audience. Searchlight might regret this buy, but they were probably hungry buyers to begin with and the fact that not much stood out at this year’s Sundance meant they settled with this one.

No doubt, Searchlight must have been interested in John Carney’s “Flora and Son.” The filmmaker’s latest cutesie musical was met with good reviews and yet another standing ovation from Sundance audiences.

This “buzz” translated into Apple overpaying for the rights to “Flora and Son,” dishing out a whopping $20 million for the film, which has a single mom (Eve Hewson) getting her troubled son a used guitar and hiring the help of a Los Angeles-based online guitar teacher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

Much like “Theater Camp,” the buzz will likely stay at Sundance with this one. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a likeable movie, filled with catchy music, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a reliably great screen presence, but at $20 million, what exactly is Apple expecting from this movie?

Carney’s last film, 2016’s “Sing Street,” only grossed $3 million in the US, and that was when small indies could still make theatrical money. Of course, Apple isn’t necessarily going to be looking at box-office numbers when it comes to their streamer, but questions remain as to what their game plan actually is in regards to this film.

Gregg Araki Starts Shooting ‘The Decline of F*cking Western Civilization’ with Ashton Kutcher and Alison Brie

Araki wrote the screenplay, and will direct “The Decline of F*cking Western Civilization,” a dark comedy starring Ashton Kutcher, Alison Brie, and Jesse Williams. The film started shooting today in Los Angeles.

‘La Bola Negra’ Storms TIFF as Netflix Eyes Its First Best Picture Oscar

Last night, Los Javis' "La Bola Negra" held a triumphant screening at TIFF's Princess of Wales Theatre, and the standing ovation reportedly lasted through the entire credits.

‘Resident Evil’ Reviews Are Positive — 80 Metacritic, 98% Rotten Tomatoes

I’m now predicting a $50M domestic opening weekend for this movie, which will only further cement Cregger’s drawing power after “Barbarian” and “Weapons.”

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is Officially Highest-Grossing Movie of All-Time at Domestic Box Office

Now the question is whether Spidey can become the first movie to cross $1 billion domestically. With its legs having slowed down, and $63M in receipts still needed, I highly doubt it.

Paul Schrader's ‘Non Compos Mentis’ Recasts: Sam Worthington, Liam Hemsworth and Cara Delevingne To Star in “Erotic Thriller”

After filming wraps on "Non Compos Mentis," which shoots next month, Schrader plans to start production on his "drug movie," "The Doors of Perception," in January.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Ron Howard’s ‘Alone at Dawn’ Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway Sets Christmas 2027 Release

This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

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Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

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Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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